Hundreds of people Saturday got splattered with powder paint for a good cause.
Approximately 350 participated in the third annual Splatter Dash Run For Joe’s Kids. There was a 5K run and one-mile walk. Approximately $11,000 was raised for the organization.
Joe’s Kids is a clinic in Warsaw that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy to kids with special needs.
Rebecca Bazzoni, Joe’s Kids executive director, said although the organization bills through insurance and Medicaid, they need community support to continue to provide services.
“Today is about supporting our kids and raising funds for the clinic to help each child reach their full potential,” Bazzoni said.
Christy Larue, Warsaw, and her son, Gambit, 4, who is a Joe’s Kid, participated in the one-mile walk. Gambit has been with Joe’s Kids since January and receives speech therapy.
“Joe’s Kids offers help that seems impossible. It’s important for the community to know how special they are and that they do a good job with kids,” Larue said.
Joy Parcell, North Webster, is a Joe’s Kids volunteer who answers phones and checks in children.
“I see such an improvement in the kids who come in,” Parcell said.
Renda Brower, Warsaw, and her daughter, Courtney, 7, who is a Joe’s Kid, did the one-mile walk. Courtney has arthritis and does physical therapy at Joe’s Kids.<br style=”font-family: Verdana, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;” /> “Now that she has done therapy at Joe’s Kids she is 90 percent back pain free,” Brower said.
A bus load of 30 students from Milford School attended the event.
Gabrielle Fiscus, 14, an eighth-grader at Milford School, participated in the event.
“It’s a fun experience and goes toward a good cause,” Fiscus said.
Amy Evans, seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher, organized the trip for the students.
“This builds relationships with the kids,” Evans said.
(Story By The Times Union)
